Page 30 of Chasing I Do
Gage stuck his fist out and Fancy nose bumped it. Window cracked, he started the car and he and the Dog Wonder-ful headed up Main Street. Fresh air blew through the car, bring with it the scent of earthy pine and summer days at his dad’s cabin.
A quieting peace from the day settled over him as he wound through streets that were older than the city, columned brick houses and bright-colored Victorians that spoke of another era flying past. Fancy leaned against the door, his head stuck out the window, his ears blowing back as he too enjoyed the leisurely drive up West Hills.
Gage wasn’t in any hurry, he had plenty of time before his meeting started, so he stared out the window and replayed the moment when Kylie had called him Uncle Gage. Over and over until his smile was so big he was sure he looked like a fool. Not that he cared. Uncles were allowed to make fools of themselves.
Something he reminded himself of moments later, when he saw the familiar brick driveway and pulled in, reaching the end of the road and parking next to the cottage—just as Darcy was rushing out of her house and across the rose garden.
She’d changed her clothes. Gone was the cute summer dress from earlier that was soft, hit above the knees, and clung to the right places. In its place was one of those power dresses she favored so much. This one was navy blue on the bottom, hugging those legs and hips, white up top, cinched with a belt in the middle to show off her tiny waist. And don’t even get him started on the buttons. They began at the neckline and went all way down the front.
And she left the top two undone enough that when she reached the driveway and leaned down to see who was in the car, he got enough of a view of white lace and creamy cleavage to have him manning up below the belt.
But when he saw the pink tint on her nose from a day in the sun, and her hair, which had blown loose from those up-dos she wore, he knew he was toast. He wanted her—more than was safe.
She was staring at him, too—squinting to be exact— as if she could get her eyes narrow enough he’d morph into anyone other than him.
Gage hopped out of the car, Stephanie’s wedding book in hand, and smiled. “I’m a few minutes early.”
“I would ask what you’re doing here,” she said tartly. “But that seems to be a redundant question at this point.”
“I’m here for our new client appointment.” He handed her Rhett’s signed contract.
“Rhett and Stephanie are my new clients. Not you.”
“Rhett is out of town.” He leaned in, close enough to see the pulse in her neck beat. “Where’s Kylie?”
“Taking a nap. She was having too much fun, and skipped her afternoon nap to play doggie dress up at the park.”
“I heard she was with her uncle.” Gage straightened and leaned his hip against the front of his car. “Guy must be a total douche for letting her miss naptime. I hope he at least said thank you.”
She didn’t smile, but her lips twitched at the corners and her eyes lit with humor. “I’m sorry Rhett will miss this, but Stephanie will be here in a few minutes, and I need to get prepared.”
“Stephanie’s not coming.” And neither was Kylie, which meant they were alone. “And you look more than ready.”
She dusted her hands down the front of her dress, then reached for her hair. “I look like a mommy who spent the day at a windy park chasing a dog.”
Gage reached out slowly, giving her time to step away. When she didn’t, he tucked a strand of hair that had escaped behind her ear. “You look beautiful.”
His voice fell to a whisper because touching her skin made it difficult to breathe. He hadn’t touched her like this since before Kyle had made his intentions clear. He forgot how smooth she felt, how soft.
“Thank you.” He let his hand slowly fall away. “For raising an amazing kid, for giving me today, and for letting her miss her naptime. What you’ve created here is special.” Gage looked to the quaint cottage, with the flower pots in the window and the makeshift dance barre on the porch. “It’s magical.”
“You were great with her. And Kylie deserves a little magic in her world.”
“So do you.”
An uncertain expression played on her face, and he could tell that she wanted to believe him, but was gun shy. After her childhood, then his family, her hesitation was understandable. Yet, it still rubbed him wrong that trust was still such a foreign concept for her.
“So you came here to say thanks?” she asked, taking a cautious step back.
“I came here to tell you that Stephanie doesn’t get back until Monday, and she asked me to deliver the contract and this.” He held up the four-inch binder that was comprehensive enough to plan an Inaugural Ball at the White House, and heavy enough to double as a weapon. Leaving out the part where he’d known since before their last meeting that Stephanie would be unavailable today.
“You could have told me that at the park,” she called his bluff.
“I could have, but it would break rule number one, mixing business with family.”
A trembling laughed escaped. “The dog. The park. That.” She pointed to the binder. “You listened.”
“I listen to everything you say,” he said, wondering how many times she’d gone unheard. By the look on her face, he didn’t even want to guess. It would ruin his good mood.
